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Prefishing for Redfish U.- October 28, 2008

Prefished for some upcoming trips at Redfish University with my friend Jeff Russell this morning over in East Bay. Didn’t find good concentrations of mullet but did find something better, small shrimp and crabs. Found that the fish were very comfortable lying on the bottom. I know this because we made several fan-casts in a usually very productive area and the fish were there but not feeding. Moved up and found lots of blowouts and muds. Changed plans and started to sightfish. Sightfishing would insure that I could get a bait on their noses. Found fish tailing, waking and was delighted by some very clear water and some fantastic visuals on artificial bait eating redfish. The fish were difficult because of the low, clear and cold water, but the Gulp 3″ Shrimp and small gold spoons did the trick. Extremely accurate casts and silence were a must! Found fish all over the slot, but lots of smaller fish. All fish...

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Redfish in the Sound-Sept. 5, 2008

Fished with Todd and his buddy from Mobile this morning in Santa Rosa Sound. Todd wanted to learn more about the Hewes Redfisher 21 and I figured what a better way to accomplish this than by taking him out for some redfish action and showing him how many fish it catches. Got on some very nice fish (6-7#) immediately and then fished singles and doubles the rest of the morning with some trout mixed in. They weren’t too cooperative but cooperative enough. All fish caught on Gulp and one on spinnerbait. All fish...

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Redfish Seminar Outline-July 14, 2008 Pensacola, FL

Redfish Seminar   Blindcasting   I leave no detail overlooked when blindcasting and sightfishing for redfish. Meticulous preparation and research. I believe this dramatically increases my odds at catching good numbers of redfish.   Areas:   –         Summer/early Fall- Santa Rosa Sound on the north side. Between broken down docks. High tide closer to the bank and on low tide off the bank from the middle to the end of the docks. –         Southside of sound near Opal Beach and grass flats in the surrounding areas. –         Big Lagoon- on the south around Redfish Pt. and behind Ft. McRae in the no-motor pond. –         Late fall/winter- Northern bay systems of Escambia, Blackwater and East. These are the best redfish habitats in our area. Great on low tides.   Look for large schools of larger mullet which disturb the bottom. Redfish will follow the mullet and look for shrimp and crabs kicked up by these mullet.   Average depths are between 1-3 feet of water.   Approach your area very quietly shutting off your large engine well ahead of your destination. No noise inside boat, turn off baitwell, bottomfinder and secure lose cans and everything that may hit the deck. Walk quietly and off the hatches. The noise is amplified 100x’s underwater and will alert fish within 500 yds of your presence.   Try to set up with the wind and sun. Less bow slap and better ability to see redfish and mullet. Casting with the wind will produce larger casts and, in turn, more redfish.   Top artificial baits including Gulp 5” Jerkshads, Gulp 3’ Shrimp in any color, Zoom 4” Baby Bass, slow rolled Johnson Gold Spoons in 1/8-1/4oz., Mirrodine 17-MR  #18 and #21 with green and black backs, sometimes small inline spinnerbaits slowly rolled as well.   Not much action with topwater or hard subsurface plugs. If you do want to use topwater, small Skitterwalks are my choice. Work them slowly(slower than for trout.)   Long 10-20#  fluorocarbon leaders connected directly to my mainline. I like leaders between 3-4.5 feet long. The farther away from the braid or mono the better. Often times the braid is actually...

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Redfish University July 4, 2008-Hogtown Bayou Redfish and Trout

Redfish University traveled to Destin and I guided an old friend from high school, Eric Stevenson, in Hogtown Bayou on Friday morning. Original plan was to hit West Bay, which we’ll do next time, but I had some 4th of July plans and needed to cut the day short. Lots of mullet in shallow water. Picked up a few redfish and a handful of trout, and missed a few heavy bites. Little slow… all fish caught on 1/4 Johnson Gold Spoons in less than two feet of water. Covered alot of techniques and water! A beautiful morning at Redfish...

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June 17,2008-West Bay Redfish at Redfish University

Guided Mr. Patrick Small this morning in West Bay as a part of a three-part series to the east concentrating on redfish and tarpon. I hated seeing that full moon when I left Pensacola at 215am and knew we would have to stick our fish early and before they entered the grass. Popped one very nice fish immediately and missed a few follow-up opportunities. Plenty of fish but very, very uncooperative and hidden in the flooded grass. Actually had a sightfished redfish blow out a Gulp! Crab today which isn’t too surprising since it was probably jam packed full of real crabs from its overnight feast. Got a few fish and dropped a few more. Also landed a nice 4# speckled trout. We will return to West Bay next week for an opposite tide and then to St. Joe for some tarpon action afterwards.  All fish caught on 1/4oz. Johnson Spoons and 5″ Gulp Jerkshads in camo. All fish released. *On a full moon, get to your fish early and use small baits for best...

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